its hilt was behind his head. Then he leaned back with his elbows on the rail and waited to enjoy the fun.
The Fifth was trespassing. That might be from ignorance, but he knew enough to salute the captain as a superior and to refrain from drawing his sword on deck. He used the civilian hand gestures: “I am Polini, swordsman of the fifth rank, and it is my deepest and most humble wish that the Goddess Herself will see fit to grant you long life and happiness and to induce you to accept my modest and willing service in any way in which I may advance any of your noble purposes.”
No titles or office mentioned? He was a tall, rangy man, probably in his early thirties. His voice was cultured and resonant. On first impressions and restricted to a rear view, Wallie was inclined to approve of this Polini. Tomiyano was not. He waited a long, insulting minute before speaking, his eyes slit,ted. Then he made the ritual reply without sounding as if he meant a word of it: “I am Tomiyano, sailor of the third rank, master of Sapphire, and am honored to accept your gracious service.”
The First was a mere kid, slim and slight and much shorter man his mentor. Lowranks were not normally presented. He stood rigid and silent on Polini’s left. Maloli and Linihyo drifted unobtrusively closer to fire buckets, whose sand contained knives. Tomiyano must be able to see Wallie in the background, but he was keeping his eyes on the Fifth.
“Permission to come aboard, Captain?”
Tomiyano pursed his lips. “Seems to me you already have.”
Wallie knew from experience how Tomiyano enjoyed provoking swordsmen.
“Captain,” the Fifth said, “I wish passage on your ship for my proteg and myself.”
Tomiyano hooked thumbs in his belt, his right hand close to his dagger. “This is a family ship, master. We carry no passengers. The Goddess be with you.”
‘Two silvers for you, sailor! If She wills, you should return within the day.”
Oligarro and Holiyi floated out of the fo’c’sle door. They, also, edged close to fire buckets. The children on the poop deck had fallen silent and lined up along the rail to watch. Sounds of wagons and horses drifted up from the dock.
“Jonahs, are you?” Tomiyano inquired. “Where did She drag you from?”
The back of Polini’s neck was turning red, but he kept his voice calm. “From Plo. Not that you will have heard of it.”
The captain still refrained from looking at WalUe, but his reply was meant for him, also. “Of course I have heard of Plo. The most beautiful woman I have ever seen came from Plo. Far to the south, I understand.”
“Plo is famous for the beauty of its women,” Polini agreed.
“But not for the manners of its men.”
Very few swordsmen could have taken that from a civilian, very few. The youngster made an audible gasping sound, and Polini’s sword arm twitched. Somehow he kept himself under control. “That was not itself a good demonstration of manners, sailor.”
“Then go away frowning.”
“I have told you that we wish passage. I shall be generous— five silvers and I shall overlook your impudence.”
The captain shook his head. “The garrison of Tau is organizing a ship for the swordsmen, due to leave tomorrow. Yesterday one reached Casr within an hour, by Her Hand.”
“I am aware of that.”
Tomiyano’s eyebrows shot up. “Doesn’t want to go to Casr, huh?” There was a strong implication of cowardice in the way he spoke. Wallie expected the explosion.
It did not come, but it was close. Polini’s voice dropped an octave. “No. I do not plan to go to Casr yet, if She wills.”
“And I do not plan to visit Plo, in spite of its women.”
The swordsman’s fists were clenched. Wallie prepared to intervene. It was fun, but very dangerous fun.
“Your insolence becomes tiresome. Swordsmen serve the Goddess and are owed your help. Do not provoke me further!”
“Get off my ship—before I call on my friends!”
Incredibly, Polini still
The Fifth was trespassing. That might be from ignorance, but he knew enough to salute the captain as a superior and to refrain from drawing his sword on deck. He used the civilian hand gestures: “I am Polini, swordsman of the fifth rank, and it is my deepest and most humble wish that the Goddess Herself will see fit to grant you long life and happiness and to induce you to accept my modest and willing service in any way in which I may advance any of your noble purposes.”
No titles or office mentioned? He was a tall, rangy man, probably in his early thirties. His voice was cultured and resonant. On first impressions and restricted to a rear view, Wallie was inclined to approve of this Polini. Tomiyano was not. He waited a long, insulting minute before speaking, his eyes slit,ted. Then he made the ritual reply without sounding as if he meant a word of it: “I am Tomiyano, sailor of the third rank, master of Sapphire, and am honored to accept your gracious service.”
The First was a mere kid, slim and slight and much shorter man his mentor. Lowranks were not normally presented. He stood rigid and silent on Polini’s left. Maloli and Linihyo drifted unobtrusively closer to fire buckets, whose sand contained knives. Tomiyano must be able to see Wallie in the background, but he was keeping his eyes on the Fifth.
“Permission to come aboard, Captain?”
Tomiyano pursed his lips. “Seems to me you already have.”
Wallie knew from experience how Tomiyano enjoyed provoking swordsmen.
“Captain,” the Fifth said, “I wish passage on your ship for my proteg and myself.”
Tomiyano hooked thumbs in his belt, his right hand close to his dagger. “This is a family ship, master. We carry no passengers. The Goddess be with you.”
‘Two silvers for you, sailor! If She wills, you should return within the day.”
Oligarro and Holiyi floated out of the fo’c’sle door. They, also, edged close to fire buckets. The children on the poop deck had fallen silent and lined up along the rail to watch. Sounds of wagons and horses drifted up from the dock.
“Jonahs, are you?” Tomiyano inquired. “Where did She drag you from?”
The back of Polini’s neck was turning red, but he kept his voice calm. “From Plo. Not that you will have heard of it.”
The captain still refrained from looking at WalUe, but his reply was meant for him, also. “Of course I have heard of Plo. The most beautiful woman I have ever seen came from Plo. Far to the south, I understand.”
“Plo is famous for the beauty of its women,” Polini agreed.
“But not for the manners of its men.”
Very few swordsmen could have taken that from a civilian, very few. The youngster made an audible gasping sound, and Polini’s sword arm twitched. Somehow he kept himself under control. “That was not itself a good demonstration of manners, sailor.”
“Then go away frowning.”
“I have told you that we wish passage. I shall be generous— five silvers and I shall overlook your impudence.”
The captain shook his head. “The garrison of Tau is organizing a ship for the swordsmen, due to leave tomorrow. Yesterday one reached Casr within an hour, by Her Hand.”
“I am aware of that.”
Tomiyano’s eyebrows shot up. “Doesn’t want to go to Casr, huh?” There was a strong implication of cowardice in the way he spoke. Wallie expected the explosion.
It did not come, but it was close. Polini’s voice dropped an octave. “No. I do not plan to go to Casr yet, if She wills.”
“And I do not plan to visit Plo, in spite of its women.”
The swordsman’s fists were clenched. Wallie prepared to intervene. It was fun, but very dangerous fun.
“Your insolence becomes tiresome. Swordsmen serve the Goddess and are owed your help. Do not provoke me further!”
“Get off my ship—before I call on my friends!”
Incredibly, Polini still
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